Park Closure
Balsam Mountain Campground is closed
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Balsam Mountain Campground is closed
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Drive Foothills Parkway (Chilhowee to Walland) - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Scenic Driving
Drive Foothills Parkway (Chilhowee to Walland)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Pets: Yes
Fees: Yes
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Current Alerts
21 active alerts
View current park alerts
Access Requirements
Unknown
View official access requirements
Weather forecast
65°F
18°C
· Mostly Sunny
More weather details
Best Time to Visit
Official provider information is not available for this activity.
Based on official activity seasons
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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Current park status
21 active alerts
Current park status
21 active alerts
Park Closure
US 441/Newfound Gap Road and Balsam Mountain Campground is closed
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US 441/Newfound Gap Road and Balsam Mountain Campground is closed due to wind. U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road will remain closed for the rest of today, Oct. 10. The road will be reassessed tomorrow.
Park Closure
Abrams Falls Trail Closed on October 8
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Abrams Falls Trail will be closed on Thursday, October 8.
Park Closure
Foothills Parkway West (between Wears Valley and Walland) is closed
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Foothills Parkway West (between Wears Valley and Walland) is closed due to a road maintenance issue.
Park Closure
Upper Tremont Road temporarily closed
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Upper Tremont Road will be temporarily closed from 8 AM to 4 PM due to work along the roadway.
Park Closure
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
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Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is temporarily closed for maintenance.
Park Closure
Roadwork on the Gatlinburg Spur to affect traffic
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The park will conduct single-lane closures on the Gatlinburg Spur near Huskey Grove bridge from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. September 21-30. The park plans to start single-lane closures on the southbound lanes and then shift to the northbound lanes. The single-lane closure will affect the tunnel in the northbound lane. Work is scheduled to conclude for the day at noon on Sept. 25 and will not occur over the weekend.
Park Closure
Little River Road between Elkmont and Metcalf Bottoms closed
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The section of Little River Road between Elkmont and Metcalf Bottoms is closed until noon for essential maintenance. Visitors can use Wears Valley Road (US 321) between Townsend and Line Springs Road as a detour. Popular sites including Elkmont, Metcalf Bottoms and Cades Cove will remain accessible during this closure but may require detours. Visitors should plan for increased travel time.
Park Closure
Southbound Spur between Norton Creek & Husky Grove is closed
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The Southbound Spur between Norton Creek & Husky Grove is closed due to a motor vehicle accident. Please find an alternate route.
Park Closure
Kuwohi Road and Observation Tower closed morning of 9/10/2026
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Kuwohi Road will be closed to all pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists the morning of September 10 to facilitate the Kuwohi Connection Days educational programs. The parking area will close at 8 p.m. on September 9, and the road is scheduled to open up at 2 p.m. on September 10. Please consider alternate destinations during this time.
Information
NPS conducting drilling on US441/Newfound Gap Road pullout
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From September 8-17, the scenic pullout north of the Carlos Campbell Overlook on US441/Newfound Gap Road will be closed so that the national park can complete drillwork. The road will not be closed, but please use caution while driving in the area.
Park Closure
Missing person: Have you seen Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak?
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Bachleda-Blaszczak is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is from Illinois. Anyone with information should contact SmokiesTips@nps.gov. You can see his photo and learn more by reading our press release below.
Park Closure
Wear Cove Gap Road closed
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Wear Cove Gap Road is closed between Line Springs and Metcalf Bottoms for bridge repair & road maintenance
Park Closure
Metcalf Bottoms Bridge is closed to pedestrians due to bridge damage
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Metcalf Bottoms Bridge is closed to pedestrians due to bridge damage. Visitors will not be able to walk from the picnic area across the bridge to access the Metcalf Bottoms Trail. Parking for the trail is limited near the trailhead.
Park Closure
Sparks Lane is closed
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Sparks Lane is closed due to high water.
Park Closure
Greenbrier Road is currently closed to downed trees and high water.
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Greenbrier Road is currently closed to downed trees and high water.
Park Closure
Parsons Branch Road is closed
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Parson Branch Road is closed due to high water & downed tree.
Park Closure
Park Headquarters Road is closed
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Park Headquarters Road is closed due to rehabilitation work on the Sugarlands water and wastewater systems.
Information
Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles every Wednesday
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Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles every Wednesday through September 30. This allows pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the cove without the presence of vehicles on the roadway.
Park Closure
Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road closed.
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Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road (Heintooga Round-Bottom Road) are closed.
Information
Most visitors need a parking tag
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All vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes require a parking tag. Three tag durations are available for purchase for all vehicle sizes and types: Daily ($5), Weekly ($15), or Annual ($40).
About this activity
Drive 16.6 miles (26.7 km) one-way on Foothills Parkway from Chilhowee to Walland.
Overview
Drive the section of Foothills Parkway West that connects the community of Walland to the southwest corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Chilhowee Lake. The parkway is popular among individuals seeking to drive US-129 otherwise known as the “Tail of the Dragon” north of Chilhowee Lake. Between Chilhowee Lake and Walland, Tennessee, the parkway has 16 parking areas, 14 of which are scenic overlooks. The parkway climbs the ridge of the foothills over Happy Valley and offers views looking both east towards Great Smoky Mountains National Park and west overlooking Maryville and Alcoa.
The views available along the parkway vary throughout the drive. Along the southern portion of the parkway, southeastern overlooks face the mountains that surround Cades Cove, providing the opportunity to see the sunrise over one of the most iconic locations of the park. Southeast-facing overlooks along the northern portion of the parkway offer views of working farms in Millers Cove. On clear days, the Cumberland Plateau can be visible from northwest facing overlooks.
Two improved viewing platforms can be found at Look Rock, 7.1 miles from the southern entrance to the parkway. A set of stairs lead down to the lower platform, directly adjacent to the parking lot. Just north of the parking lot, a short, paved trail leads to the Look Rock Tower.
There are no trash cans available at the parking areas throughout the parkway, so please be sure to pack out your trash.
This section of Foothills Parkway stretches from US-129 by Chilhowee Lake to US-321 near Walland, Tennessee. Mileposts mark the distance from the Chilhowee Lake entrance.
- Between Mileposts 3 and 4: Two overlooks that face southeast.
- Between Mileposts 4 and 5: Two overlooks that face southeast.
- Mile 6.4: One scenic overlook facing southeast.
- Mile 7.1: Look Rock Tower Trail and lower Look Rock Overlook have ample parking and access to Look Rock Tower.
- Mile 7.5: Look Rock Picnic Area and Campground provide restrooms and ample parking.Between Mileposts 10 and 11 are two parking areas and one overlook facing northwest.
- Mile 11.4: Two overlooks on either side of the parkway.Between Mileposts 13 and 14: Two overlooks that face northwest
- Mile 14.2: Parking area on the southern side of road.Between Mileposts 15 and 16: Two parking areas that face southeast.
- Mile 16.6: intersection with US HWY 321
Length
16.6 miles (26.7 km) one-way
Parking
Parking is available throughout the parkway. Don't forget your parking tag.
Nearest Restroom
Look Rock Picnic Area (available seasonally)
Similar Routes
Activity details
Pets
Yes
The Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail are the only two park trails where pets are permitted. Pets are also allowed in picnic areas, in campgrounds, and on roads.
Fees
Yes
A parking tag is required to park in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes.
Accessibility
All parking areas and turn offs provide at least one accessible parking space with most providing two accessible parking spaces. Larger parking areas at miles 7.1 and 15.4 provide four and three accessible parking spaces, respectively. The lower Look Rock viewing area is only accessible by stairs. Look Rock Tower Trail is a 0.8-mile paved trail of mild to moderate steepness, and the ramp accessing the top of the tower is steep.
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Access requirement information
Not available
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Official website
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Weather forecast
Check the weather forecast before planning this activity.
Columbus Day
65°F18°C
Mostly Sunny
N 8 mph12 km/h
Tonight
55°F13°C
Mostly Clear
W 3 mph4 km/h
Tuesday
69°F21°C
Sunny
W 5 mph8 km/h
Tuesday Night
57°F14°C
Clear
S 3 mph4 km/h
Wednesday
72°F22°C
Sunny
SW 3 mph4 km/h
Wednesday Night
59°F15°C
Mostly Clear
S 3 mph4 km/h
Forecasts can change and local conditions may vary. Check official weather alerts and park guidance before your visit.
Location and map
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Information & Disclaimer
National Parks Explorer strives to present accurate and up-to-date information collected from official and trusted sources, including the National Park Service. While we make every effort to keep this information current, information may be incomplete, inaccurate, outdated or subject to change without prior notice, including access requirements, permits, reservations, operating hours, alerts, fees, road and trail conditions, weather and other visitor information.